Snohomish, Washington, USA
28-NOV-2019
Strava Link
Garmin Link
50th BLT for calendar year 2019
I arrived to Seattle about midnight on a direct flight from Miami. Checked in to my hotel and rose early to arrive to the Wattle Waddle marathon; the half is called the Wittle Waddle. There is also an unpublished 50k option which we, dear reader, shall call the Ultra Waddle. It was a frigid Thanksgiving morning for this Floridian, 26 according to my rental car dash. The race is small (about 20 marathoners) and a 6.55 mile out and back course run in a bow tie fashion on the centennial bicycle trail, a pancake flat former railroad bed in Snohomish. You run the out and back once for the half, twice for the marathon, and an extra 2.5 mile out and back on the first loop for the 50k folks. The organizer, Northwest Endurance Events, has ultra-style aid stations at miles 3, 8, 13, 16, and 21 with water, electrolyte, chips, cookies, gummy bears, etc. My ribs seemed to be holding up decently on my first BLT since the fall. I was slow, but still moving until mile 18 or so when. I started to get tired and bored and simultaneously get texted by Canadian customers from work.
The out and back nature meant I got to see familiar faces: Bucci, who I believe won the men’s marathon. Sabrina who I was able to share a few miles with before she left me in the dust about mile 18. Rick, who I believe I mentioned in my Javelina report had recovered from a cardiac issue. Steph, a speedy sort who I’d met through David from Minneapolis at Pocatello. And of course there’s new friends, Tom from the Boston area who chatted me up briefly in the early miles.
As for the course there’s not much to say. It’s sparsely populated except for the occasional DIY turkey trotter. It’s an inexpensive race made up almost exclusively of folks from the area and many are taking part in what is known as the Seattle Quad, a series of four marathons and half marathons with some 50k options available the weekend of Thanksgiving. I had participated in the Texas Quad a few years ago and wanted to try it’s Pacific sister.
I was so slow (or persistent depending upon your perspective) that I earned the “Slowest Roasted” award. I shall cherish it always. At the finish there’s pie, and soup, and pie, and fig newtons, and did I mention the pie? Because I feel it’s important to mention that there’s pie. Anyway, after the finish folks seemed to hang out as ultra folk are want to do. It’s almost like they like people. Sickos!
The following morning my ribs were bothering me and I only needed 2 more Washington marathons so I decided to rest two more days and do day 4 of the quad, the Seattle marathon, Seattle’s big city marathon.
